Indian men and women look to make a mark in Rio 2016 Olympics hockey

Buoyed by some sturdy performances within the run-up to the Rio de Janeiro athletics, Indian men’s team can look to interrupt their 36-year-long honor jinx once the hockey competition begins in First State Janeiro|Rio|city|metropolis|urban center} de Janerio on Sat. Eight-time champions, Republic of India won their last Olympic gold at the 1980 capital of the Russian Federation Games. What followed were years of incomprehensible opportunities and so came the disgrace of failing to qualify for Beijing Games. Four years agone, they qualified however finished last and therefore the PR Sreejesh captained aspect, World Health Organization won a historic silver within the Champions Trophy, can eye redemption for London debacle once they begin their campaign against eire in an exceedingly doubtless tough encounter at the Olympic Hockey structure in Deodoro. The women’s team would additionally hope to continue their fairytale run that helped them to earn a berth at Rio de Janeiro athletics once a niche of thirty six years. Making their 1st Olympic look since capital of the Russian Federation 1980, the women’s team are on a high to open their campaign against Japan, a team whom they'd overwhelmed within the World league to qualify once thirty six years. Clubbed in an exceedingly cluster comprising defensive champions Deutschland, runners-up Kingdom of The Netherlands and Pan-Am prime 2 Argentina and Canada, the men’s team can ought to get into the rhythm as quickly as potential as any fault can threaten to derail their match hopes. India to its advantage have a world category goalkeeper in Sreejesh whereas their middle is compact and therefore the concern are on the defence to rise to the ocassion and not concede late goals. A match ought to be a sensible chance, whereas a draw and win against the highest 3 groups of Deutschland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and therefore the Kingdom of The Netherlands ought to be a bonus to avoid the heavyweights Australia in an exceedingly potential last eight match-up. As a part of the new format, four groups from each the teams can create the quarterfinals. Ireland area unit first-timers at the athletics as they created the cut finishing third before United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Kingdom of Belgium within the European Championship, ANd within the World League they beat groups like West Pakistan and Asian nation and Roeland Oltmans’ boys can ought to score an early goal. In that case, the most-capped Sardar Singh — stripped off his position — can look to create a daring statement whereas vice-captain S V Sunil can play the role of a feeder from the proper flank. Sardar has been a shadow of his past however his wealthy expertise and extremist fitness level place him among the highest and he would look to beat his personal woes and contribute to the team with sharpie and correct passing. The team to Rio de Janeiro wore a settled hunt for last 2 years within which they won the Asian Games gold in port and Commonwealth Games silver in city in 2014. ‘Captain cool’ goalkeeper Sreejesh can look to create a wall underneath the bar whereas the likes of VR Raghnath, Kothajit Singh, and Rupinder Pal Singh can kind the core of the defence. India has the foremost range of gold medals in Olympic history however coach Oltmans has insisted to measure within the gift. “We are hoping to boost on their twelfth place showing at the 2012 London Games. we all know concerning the superb past of Indian hockey, however we tend to sleep in the current. we tend to area unit aiming for the most effective potential result. I will try and influence these guys. Sometimes, I succeed. Sometimes, they don’t listen,” aforesaid Roelant Oltmans, World Health Organization is in his sixth athletics. “When expectations area unit solely on my shoulders, I don’t care. I will take care of that pressure. that folks area unit talking like that concerning the team once more, is as a result of we tend to had a decent year. however it mustn't influence the performance of the players. it's my job to create positive that they are doing not get frantic and hear the work workers.” Meanwhile, the thirteenth hierarchal women’s team live} upbeat to be in Games once a niche of thirty six years and that they additionally had an analogous build up once Sushila Chanu was created the skipper commutation Rita blue blood as a disciplinary measure. “Coach (Neil Hagwood) has told United States to attain early goals and not permit simple goals throughout the half-moon,” defender Deep Grace Ekka aforesaid